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Baltimore restaurants of considerable quality can be found all over town, and while many specialize in seafood, that isn't the only kind of cuisine on offer. From the Baltimore Harbor seafood restaurants, to the the Little Italy neighborhood where you can dine on favorable Italian cuisine, to even unexpected treats such as French cuisine, Baltimore has it all. Whatever you have a taste for, the Baltimore dining scene has you covered, even if you just feel like grabbing some fast food as you go along your way.

You're never far from good Baltimore restaurants wherever you find yourself in the city, though there are some areas that are better dining destinations than others. The touristy Inner Harbor is home to some familiar chain brand restaurants, a few more original gems, good seafood restaurants, and some fun bars that serve up pub-style grub. Should you wander over to the nearby Power Plant Live district, you'll only find more restaurants and bars that can make for fine places to eat near the Inner Harbor.

Next to Little Italy is the Fells Point neighborhood, and it is also known for its healthy supply of good restaurants. Back towards the Inner Harbor, the happening Harbor East neighborhood seems to be adding new restaurants all the time. Rounding out the top Baltimore dining destinations is the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, which can be found on the northern side of the downtown area. Good Baltimore seafood restaurants can be found in all of these destinations should you get the urge for some famous Baltimore crab cakes.

Of all the Baltimore restaurants, those that are of the seafood variety are arguably the most popular. That's partly because this city sits right on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. Blue crabs aplenty come out of the Chesapeake Bay waters, and their rich taste is renowned. A number of crab houses serve up crab cakes, steamed crabs, and other crab dishes, with May through September being the peak crab season. Outside of this season, many of the crabs that you will dine on at the crab houses and the other Baltimore seafood restaurants often come from elsewhere, such as Louisiana. Fells Point features some of the best crab houses, and should you venture over to the famed Lexington Market, you can sample some traditional crab cakes that are sure to please.

The Lexington Market is one of the most impressive Baltimore dining destinations. In addition to a thriving food market, this culinary wonderland features eateries of both the takeout and eat-in variety. The dining options are replete at the Lexington Market, and since it can be found near some great attractions, such as Oriole Park, a visit can easily be worked into various itineraries. Two other great markets that you might also keep in mind on a Baltimore visit include the Cross Street Market in the Federal Hill neighborhood and the Broadway Market in Fell's Point.

Most of the Baltimore restaurants are open year round, so there really isn't a bad time to visit if you want to explore the city's dining scene. In addition to eating at the restaurants located in Baltimore proper, you might see what some of the other area restaurants have to offer while in town. Nearby destinations such as Ellicott City and Havre de Grace are home to some fine eateries of their own, for example, and there is no shortage of tantalizing places to get something to eat in Annapolis.

Annapolis, it should be noted, is where the Maryland Seafood Festival takes place. One of the top Maryland events, this September festival has little trouble drawing people into the Baltimore region due to its excellent mix of food and entertainment. Another food festival that might pique visitors' interests is the Crab & Beer Festival, which takes place in late August.

Between the Baltimore Inner Harbor restaurants and those that can be found throughout the rest of the area, you will have no trouble finding something good to eat. This city is a dining enthusiast's dream, and when you're not dining, there will be plenty of other options for fun things to do. Many of the best restaurants can be found near some of the best shops, so a rewarding shopping and dining adventure is always an option.